New cenotaph at Belvedere

New cenotaph at Belvedere

PARRY SOUND - Three northern Ontario memorials to honour veterans received $114,863 last week from the federal government. On May 24, Parry Sound-Muskoka MP Tony Clement made the announcement that will see Belvedere Heights Home for the Aged receive up to $50,000 through the War Memorial Program.
Belvedere is one of two other northern communities receiving funds through the program.
“Our community war memorials serve as lasting reminders of the courage and achievements of our veterans and the men and women who serve Canada today,” said Clement. “Our government applauds Belvedere Heights for taking the initiative to build these memorials to preserve the memory of our veterans and Canadian Forces members.”
Home to veterans, the funds will build the Belvedere Heights Veterans Memorial in a park overlooking Georgian Bay. The new memorial will commemorate past and present residents of the home for the aged who served in times of war and peace. The cenotaph will be located in a well-landscaped garden area as part of a larger parkette development project that will also include a veterans memorial walkway around the perimeter of the parkette.
‘Sacred duty’
“It is our sacred duty to remember and honour our veterans and the brave men and women in uniform who serve Canada so selflessly,” said Minister of Veteran Affairs Steven Blaney. “The memorials we build today will forever reflect our nation’s gratitude to the generations of Canadian who allow us to live in peace and freedom. Our government is proud to support projects that help honour the sacrifices of our veterans and our service men and women.”